'Great fire of 1860' wiped out downtown Laconia, 150 years ago this week

By Warren D. Huse

Saturday

Nov 27, 2010 at 3:15 AM

LACONIA — A great conflagration — "probably the most extensive and destructive in its effects, in the proportion to the size of the place, of any which ever occurred in the State" struck Laconia early on the morning of Nov. 21, 1860, the two local weekly newspapers here reported, 150 years ago this week.

Essentially, the business section — from Water and Mill streets south to the Winnipesaukee River was wiped out, with the exception of the Ranlet Car Shops (about where the Beacon Street West condominiums are today) and the Belknap Mill.

Both local newspapers were burned out — but published as usual, the New Hampshire Democrat on Nov. 23 and the Winnipesaukee Gazette, Nov. 24, thanks to the printing plants of the Patriot, Statesman and the Independent in Concord.

In The Democrat's account, it was noted that, with but few exceptions, "the places of business, materials and stocks in trade of all our most active business men" had been destroyed

"It is a calamity whose full effects are not yet realized ... It will probably be a long time ere buildings of the style and magnitude of those constructed will be erected, if indeed, they ever are."

The burned buildings had themselves been constructed after another serious fire at Meredith Bridge, 14 years earlier, in 1846.

The Democrat writer added, "and here it may be pertinent to remark, that never again should so many wooden buildings be erected upon the space now vacant. Brick buildings only should be placed there, and the space heretofore occupied by the pail factory, box factory, sash and blind shop, &c., should be left open, or only brick buildings placed thereupon."

(As it turned out, however, this suggestion was honored more in the breach than in the observance.)

Meanwhile, The Gazette had reported:

"We were awakened on Wednesday morning last by an alarm of fire. On repairing to the place from whence the light proceeded, we found the stable in the rear of the Cerro Gordo House in flames, and what few of the citizens had arrived were busily engaged in removing the furniture from the house."

The "Torrent boys were quickly at their posts, but, owing to the packing of the machine blowing out, it was some minutes before the machine could be made to work."

(The "Torrent" was the Meredith Bridge equivalent of the "Niagara"at Lake Village — both so-called "hand-tubs," but in actuality hand-operated pumps.)

"Meanwhile the wind, rising rapidly, blew the flames and smoke directly on and into the Cerro Gordo House, so that it was with difficulty the inmates could escape, even in their night attire. Many lost all of their clothing except what they could hastily seize in their flight."

The sash and blind factory, the box factory, and the pail factory "were all soon in a blaze beyond the power of the engine to control."

About this time, "a gale arose in the north and west, which swept the flames down the west side of the street with astonishing speed," burning successively five more buildings.

"By this time, the buildings on the other side of the street began to show symptoms of taking fire, the air in the street becoming so hot that the multitude that had been engaged in clearing out the stores, shops and offices, were obliged to desist, and give up their buildings and property to the flames."

People "flocked in crowds from Lake Village and the surrounding towns, to assist and sympathize with our unfortunate citizens."

The "Niagara boys, from Lake Village, worked like tigers, and stoppped the raging elements at the foundry, while the other engine (The "Torrent") was busily engaged in checking the progress of the flames north and on Water street."

During all this time, "the force pump at the Belknap Mills did good execution, checking the fire in that direction whenever it came within reach of their hose pipe."

A train "was run to Meredith Village, and the engine came down in season to do much good."

The women and factory girls "turned out en masse and worked on the brakes (as the hand-tub "handles" were called)."

Within less than three hours, more than three fourths of all the business places in the village were consumed. Scarcely a parallel can be found in the annals of New England. The sun rose that morning upon a desolate scene for Laconia."

The fire "was, no doubt, the work of an incendiary," The Gazette opined.

The "whole number of buildings burned, large and small," had been "about fifty."

The Democrat's coverage provided additional detail:

"The Cerro Gordo House, it will be recollected, fronted upon Main Street, with a long hall in the rear running west."

(The Cerro Gordo, a hotel, was located about where the parking lot behind Bootleggers and the Family Dollar store are today.)

"Back of the hall was the stable. Adjoining this, still west, was a wood building, formerly a barn, but recently occupied for storing lumber. Underneath this was an open space left for the purpose of drawing out manure."

In and about the lower part of this building and the stable, the fire "was discovered at about half past three o'clock in the morning. A strong northwesterly wind was blowing, which swiftly drove the flames towards the main portion of the house, and also to the southward, sweeping first down in the rear of Gale's Block, Odlin's Building, and Gove's Block (all brick) consuming the pail factory, Hunkin's and Cook's shops, Little's Stable, and the Democrat Building, and then attacking the brick buildings above mentioned and consuming them."

At the same time, the fire "spread north and west from the Cerro Gordo, burning all the corner to Water Street, with the exception of the Engine House and a small building near it, which was pulled down."

On the east side of the street, as nearly as we can recall our impression, Parker's Building, Dinsmore's and Sanborn's commenced about at the same time; at least, as we looked up street from the bridge we saw the fronts all on fire at once."

The Exchange Block "took fire from the Democrat Building, and at about the same time Pitman's Store and Hull & Merrill's marble shop caught fire, which together with Gove's Block, all burning at once, presented a spectacle rarely witnessed except in large cities."

At about the same time, "the steeple of the Universalist Church, at a considerable distance on the Gilford side (at the corner of Baldwin Street and Union Avenue, where Sunrise Towers is today) caught from burning shingles or something similar blown upon it, and was with great difficulty extinguished by climbing upon a ladder" and applying water "with a bucket."

The fire "was finally arrested on Mill street, after it had burned nearly the length of the Factory Boarding House, and the general flood of flame was stayed just before reaching the mills."

Ranlet's Car Shops, "to the west of the Cerro Gordo, took fire, and appeared to be burning slowly a considerable time, but were not much damaged, the Lake Village engine ("The Niagara") being kept diligently at work in that vicinity."

Sibley's store was considerably scorched about the windows, but not materially damaged."

It required "considerable exertion to save the (Main Street) bridge, and also to prevent the fire extending to Avery's Building and the saloon on the Gilford side (both sites part of Stewart Park today)."

Fire engines "of this village, Lake Village and Meredith Village worked nobly and did all that was possible under the circumstances. We noticed, at one time, several ladies at work on the brakes."

Force pumps of the mills were operated.

"Large quantities of goods and articles of every description were scattered about in every direction. Five horses, one cow and five swine were burnt in the Cerro Gordo stable."

A week later — Nov. 30, 1860 — The Democrat published a revised, detailed list of the damages sustained on both sides of Main Street, which may be consulted on the microfilm at Laconia Public Library.

The Democrat added: "We cannot forbear passing a compliment to the efficiency of the Machine Shop of B.J. Cole, Esq., of Lake Village. Our printing press went through the fire; but upon examination it was deemed susceptible of being repaired. Accordingly it was taken to the above named machine shop and by the united skill of Messrs. Isaac Aldrich, Alva Tucker and Thos. Ham, it was soon put in condition."

WEST SIDE OF MAIN STREET before the Great Fire of 1860. From the near end of the Main Street Bridge are the stationery store of John C. Moulton, the jewelry store of Richard Gove, Odlin's Drug store and Gale's Hardware Store. This area is today occupied by Sawyers Jewelry and other businesses at the south end of the 'Downtown Mall.'

GOVE BLOCK on the east side of Main Street, before the Great Fire of 1860, with the Pitman Hardware store at extreme left. The Folsom Opera House and 'Lower Bank' replaced the Gove Block after the fire. (Jeweler Richard Gove also owned another brick block, on the opposite side of the street.)

BELKNAP SAVINGS BANK AND CENTRAL HOUSE, seen here in a circa 1872 photo, stood on the site most recently occupied by the Sundial Shop and other firms. The lower stories of the building dated from 1831, when the bank occupied space there — giving Bank Square its name. This structure survived the Great Fire of 1860 due to the efforts of the Laconia and Lake Village firefighters. Around 1871, the Mansard replaced an originally flat roof. The building was torn down in 1937 to make room for an F.W. Woolworth store — later, Benjamin's and, still later, Sundial.

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